How data are collected and how they are analyzed is typically described in the literature, but how the data are encoded is often not described in detail. In this paper, we discuss how data typically gathered in PER are encoded and how the choice of encoding plays a role in data analysis. We describe the kinds of data that are found when using…

Context: The accuracy of summative assessment scoring and discriminating the level of knowledge in subject matter is critical in fairness to learners in health care professional programs and to ensure stakeholders of competent providers. An evidence-based approach to determine examination quality for the assessment of applied knowledge is…

This study explores six item-reduction methodologies used to shorten an existing complex problem-solving non-objective test by evaluating how each shortened form performs across three sources of validity evidence (i.e., test content, internal structure, and relationships with other variables). Two concerns prompted the development of the present…

This study investigated the effects of linking potentially multidimensional test forms using the fixed item parameter calibration. Forms had equal or unequal total test difficulty with and without confounding difficulty. The mean square errors and bias of estimated item and ability parameters were compared across the various confounding tests. The…

Different versions of multiple-choice exams were administered to an undergraduate class in human physiology as part of normal testing in the classroom. The goal was to evaluate whether the number of options (possible answers) per question influenced the effectiveness of this assessment. Three exams (each with three versions) were given to each of…

Although it is widely agreed that there is no universally accepted definition for school climate, most professionals ground it in shared beliefs, values, and attitudes reflecting the quality and character of life in schools. In this article, we review and analyze measures accessible to school personnel charged with documenting and monitoring…

With the widespread use of technology in the assessment field, many testing programs use both computer-based tests (CBTs) and paper-and-pencil tests (PPTs). Both the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing (AERA, APA, & NCME, 2014) and the International Guidelines on Computer-Based and Internet Delivered Testing (International Test…

The use of video lectures and authentic listening tasks (e.g., taking notes; responding to short answer questions) is common practice in EAP classrooms. However, many classroom-based tests of L2 listening comprehension continue to employ audio-only listening texts and a multiple-choice response format. The effect of these differences in input type…

Measurement tools that are used in education are important factors that affect course success and motivation of students. This study aims to determine the opinions of high school students on different question types. As the subgoals of the research, the study aims to determine the reasons for multiple choice test preference and its effect on…

Curriculum-based measurement (CBM) tools are increasingly administered through technology-based modalities such as computers and tablets. Two studies were conducted to examine whether students perform similarly on paper-based and tablet-based math fact probes. Ten students completed 1-min addition or multiplication math probes using a single-case…

The study explored the application of closed-book, open-book and cheat-sheet exams in an undergraduate cost and management accounting course at a university in Ghana. 198 students participated in an exploratory study examining how the different exam types impact on exam scores, pre-exam anxiety and knowledge retention. The study improves on the…

This article outlines the development and validation of the Computer-Delivered Test (CDT) Acceptance Questionnaire (CTAQ). The CTAQ was designed to be a practical measure of CDT acceptance of Singapore secondary and high school students (Grades 7-12) toward taking tests within an e-assessment system. The stages of test (questionnaire item)…

As large-scale standardized tests move from paper-based to computer-based delivery, opportunities arise for test developers to make use of items beyond traditional selected and constructed response types. Technology-enhanced items (TEIs) have the potential to provide advantages over conventional items, including broadening construct measurement,…

Derivational morphology (DM) and how it can be assessed have been investigated relatively rarely in language learning and testing research. The goal of this study is to add to the understanding of the nature of DM knowledge, exploring whether and how it is separable from vocabulary breadth. Eight L2 (second or foreign language) English DM…

The effects of question or task complexity on second language speaking have traditionally been investigated using complexity, accuracy, and fluency measures. Response processes in speaking tests, however, may manifest in other ways, such as through nonverbal behavior. Eye behavior, in the form of averted gaze or blinking frequency, has been found…